String of Shooting Cases Send Four to Hospital

Published: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 7:55 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 7:55 a.m.

ST. PETERSBURG | Police were investigating as many as four shooting cases early Wednesday that sent at least four people to the hospital.

Police weren't sure which incidents — if any — were connected, but officers across the city were hammering out details during the predawn hours, St. Petersburg police said.

The incidents started about 2:10 a.m. when police responded to a report of a hit-and-run accident at Queensboro Avenue South and 31 Street South, police said. They found an empty, bullet-ridden Nissan Maxima with drugs inside.

While officers were figuring out what happened, the passengers of a nearby limousine flagged them down at about 3:45 a.m. The passengers told police that someone in a black Chrysler 300 had shot the limo near Seventh Avenue South and 28th Street.

The limo drove about a block after being shot before passengers found police.

Two men inside the limo had been shot, and the vehicle was peppered with bullet holes. Police found a handgun inside.

At least 10 people were in the limo, but no one else was hurt, police said. The men were taken to Bayfront Medical Center, but their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Officers found a black Chrysler 300 nearby, crashed into a concrete pole and a downed palm tree with an injured man inside, police said. He, too, had been shot.

He was taken to the hospital with injuries police described as possibly life-threatening.

Officers then received a report that a man had shown up at All Children's Hospital with gunshot wounds.

<p>ST. PETERSBURG | Police were investigating as many as four shooting cases early Wednesday that sent at least four people to the hospital.</p><p>Police weren't sure which incidents — if any — were connected, but officers across the city were hammering out details during the predawn hours, St. Petersburg police said.</p><p>The incidents started about 2:10 a.m. when police responded to a report of a hit-and-run accident at Queensboro Avenue South and 31 Street South, police said. They found an empty, bullet-ridden Nissan Maxima with drugs inside.</p><p>While officers were figuring out what happened, the passengers of a nearby limousine flagged them down at about 3:45 a.m. The passengers told police that someone in a black Chrysler 300 had shot the limo near Seventh Avenue South and 28th Street.</p><p>The limo drove about a block after being shot before passengers found police.</p><p>Two men inside the limo had been shot, and the vehicle was peppered with bullet holes. Police found a handgun inside.</p><p>At least 10 people were in the limo, but no one else was hurt, police said. The men were taken to Bayfront Medical Center, but their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.</p><p>Officers found a black Chrysler 300 nearby, crashed into a concrete pole and a downed palm tree with an injured man inside, police said. He, too, had been shot.</p><p>He was taken to the hospital with injuries police described as possibly life-threatening.</p><p>Officers then received a report that a man had shown up at All Children's Hospital with gunshot wounds.</p><p>St. Petersburg police were continuing to investigate.</p>